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According to the World Tourism Organization, a United Nation’s agency that serves as a global forum for tourism policy, worldwide international tourism grew by 5.5 percent in 2010. International tourism is expected to surpass 1.6 billion arrivals by 2020, which does not include domestic tourism. In the U.S., Americans took almost 2 billion trips within the country in 2010. This growing industry is driven by various segments, and eco-tourism represents one of them.

Tourism Definition

Tourism generally refers to travel from a home base to another destination for a stay of at least one night. The World Tourism Organization further defines it this way: “Tourism is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.” Tourism’s economic impact includes industries that depend on travel, such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, trains, cruise lines, attractions, national parks and even roadside businesses on interstate highways.

Tourism Types

People travel for different reasons. Many travel for leisure, such as a trip to the beach or to an amusement park, while others travel to large cities to visit museums, attend plays and dine at famous restaurants. Adventure tourism refers to those who seek physical activities, like river-rafting, bungee-jumping, wilderness hiking or rock-climbing. Business tourism includes travel to conventions and meetings, and incentive trips where companies give free trips to top performers. One fast-growing segment is medical tourism, where people travel to other destinations for medical treatment, often to countries like India. Another segment of the tourism industry is eco-tourism, a segment where travelers not only discover new experiences, but do so with utmost respect for the environment.

Eco-tourism Summary

According to the International Ecotourism Society, eco-tourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” One main tenet involves minimizing impact, often called “responsible tourism.” Eco-tourists leave a tourist area much as they found it without impacting the environment. A kayak trip down a river likely would have little impact on the environment, but a hunting expedition may not only result in animal death, but could affect mating habits and offspring survival. But eco-tourism goes beyond responsible tourism and encourages participants to not only respect the natural environment, but build awareness and respect for people who live in the tourist area. Eco-tourists also make financial contributions to the eco-tourism cause and raise awareness with governing bodies to increase sensitivity to tourism’s overall impact to the natural environment and the local people.

Model Eco-tourists

Eco-tourism tends to be a “buzz word” in today's tourism circles. Publicity about global warming, pollution, urban sprawl and loss of both indigenous human and animal habitat make consumers more environmentally aware, and many tourists are anxious to practice eco-tourism. But some tourism suppliers advertise eco-tourism, when in fact it is not, but only an outdoor adventure vacation. Suppliers that adhere to the International Ecotourism Society's Code of Conduct and practice all tenets of eco-tourism represent true eco-tourist organizations.

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About the Author

Jeff Fulton is a writer specializing in business, travel and culture. He has worked in international sales, customer relations and public relations for major airlines, and has written for Demand Studios since May 2009. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from the University of Chicago.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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